News - December 2014 RSS Feed

Biblical people have always reserved items associated with holy persons and events. Relics of ancient Israel’s past — the manna from the wilderness, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the Law — were all set aside, deposited and reverenced in the Ark of the Covenant.

Most Catholics will never have the opportunity to set foot inside the Vatican museums. But now most Catholics have a chance to see the world’s most formidable art collection up close and personal — and in 3D.

The main problem with Catholic families, contends Cardinal Gerhard Müller, is not the small number of civilly remarried divorced Catholics who want to receive Communion. Rather, it’s the large number of Catholics who live together before marriage, who marry civilly, or who don’t even bother with marriage.

In his second book on Vatican art, Fr. Mark Haydu, international coordinator of the Patrons of the Arts of the Vatican Museums, serves as a spiritual guide for a breathtaking journey through time, meditation, and the Vatican art collections. This time, he offers readers an explanation of the battle between the fallen angels and the faithful angels — and God sending his angels to watch over the faithful.

The Christmas story is both familiar and utterly extraordinary. The cast of characters includes shepherds, magicians, an emperor and a despot, angels, and a baby who is Almighty God. In his new book subtitled How Christ’s Coming Changed Everything (and Still Does), Hahn examines the characters and the story in light of the biblical and historical context.

Father Rick Stansberry grew up Episcopalian. His parents divorced when he was 12, and he converted to Catholicism as a teenager — much to the disappointment of his parents. After becoming an accountant, he attended seminary and was ordained in 1992. He was later able to confirm his own mother! In addition to serving as pastor of Christ the King parish and judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Fr. Stansberry is the chaplain of Legatus’ newest chapter. Members began meeting in July and the chapter will charter on Dec. 10. Father Stansberry spoke with Legatus magazine’s editorial assistant Tim Drake.

The Body of Christ is the most precious thing in the world. It’s very important that none of it be lost or disrespected in any way.

Total knee replacement (TKR), also known as total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which artificial parts are used to replace parts of the knee joint.

Blessed Mother Teresa’s tendency to offer quotes of spiritual genius offers timeless inspiration. In all the good she did, it was her faithful disposition that led her to accomplish great things for God’s glory.

When a parent informs a Catholic school that a child will soon present as a member of the opposite sex, how should the administration respond?

Speculation is one of those words that raises many Christians’ hackles. It conjures up visions of people making easy gain for no apparent effort, and some associate it with financial crises.

Born in Germany as Maria Anna Barbara Koob (later changed to Cope), this future saint emigrated with her family to Utica, N.Y., in 1839. Cope joined the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis in Syracuse, taking the name Marianne. She became a teacher, and later a principal in schools established for German- speaking immigrants. Cope helped found the first two Catholic hospitals in Central New York, was appointed as administrator for St. Joseph’s Hospital, and became a leader in the field of health care and education.

I don’t know about you, but I always used to get the winter blahs about three or four weeks after Christmas. It never failed. After celebrating Christ’s birth and ringing in the New Year, there seemed to be nothing left to look forward to until spring.

For some time I had been intending to gather a small group of Legatus members for a couple days of retreat. The idea was to hold it at a great venue, bring in some tremendous speakers, and make it a real personal experience.